[Acute osteomyelitis in the child with sickle cell disease in a tropical zone: value of oral fluoroquinolones]

Arch Pediatr. 2001 Dec;8(12):1305-10. doi: 10.1016/s0929-693x(01)00650-9.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Aim: This study was designed to assess the efficacy and the safety of fluoroquinolones in their compassionate use for acute osteomyelitis in children with sickle cell disease in a tropical country.

Patients and methods: This study was non comparative, including twelve children (eight SS, three SC and one SEzerothalassemia) treated for acute osteomyelitis with oral ciprofloxacin or ofloxacin because of the following reasons: financial inability to afford conventional parenteral beta-lactams therapy (nine patients), refusal of hospitalization (two patients), and failure of conventional treatment (one patient).

Results: The mean age of patients was 9.5 +/- 2.6 years. The long bones were the predominantly site. Salmonella species were present in 75% of cases, followed by other enterobacteriaceae (16.7%), and Staphylococcus aureus (8.3%). Successful outcome occurred in all cases after three to four-weeks of treatment and 45 days of plaster immobilization. Transient bilateral Achilles tendon tendinitis was noted in a five-year-old patient.

Conclusion: In economically developing countries, oral fluoroquinolones may be a therapeutic alternative for acute osteomyelitis in patients with sickle cell disease particularly in cases of financial hardship or failure with conventional therapy.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Administration, Oral
  • Anemia, Sickle Cell / diagnostic imaging
  • Anemia, Sickle Cell / drug therapy*
  • Anti-Infective Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Anti-Infective Agents / adverse effects
  • Bacterial Infections / diagnostic imaging
  • Bacterial Infections / drug therapy*
  • Child
  • Female
  • Fluoroquinolones
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Osteomyelitis / diagnostic imaging
  • Osteomyelitis / drug therapy*
  • Radiography
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Salmonella Infections / drug therapy
  • Togo
  • Tropical Climate*

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Fluoroquinolones